The North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance was formed 59 years ago after the end of World War II. Its mission is often described as avoiding World War III by keeping the Germans down, the Russians out and the Americans in. It succeeded. The Cold War is over, and NATO membership has grown from twelve countries to 26. Most US allies wanted to wait until the sixtieth anniversary next year, but President Bush wanted another summit before he left office, and he's now in Bucharest, Romania for three days of meetings. He wants more NATO troops in Afghanistan, more member nations, and approval of applications from Ukraine and Georgia. Russia's President Putin could not ignore that challenge, and it's not expected to happen. We look at the prospects for Afghanistan. Is the alliance itself becoming a two-tier institution, with some members letting others do the heavy lifting? Has NATO outlived its usefulness?
The NATO Summit in Bucharest
Credits
Guests:
- Robert Hunter - former US Ambassador to NATO
- Mark Laity - Spokesman, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Julianne Smith - Center for a New American Security - @Julie_C_Smith
- Barry Posen - Massachusetts Institute of Technology - @MIT_SSP